illicit 7

illicit 7

Grapes: 99% Pinot Noir, 1% ??

ABV: 13.3%

Winemaker: Jeff Lindsay-Thorsen 

Viniculture: Organically farmed, from one of the greatest vineyards in Oregon’s Willamette Valley

Winemaking: Blended across three vintages–2017, 2018, 2019. 

Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon, and 1% somewhere else :)

“powerfully aromatic and wildly savory”

Ever since Crunchy Red Fruit started, we’ve been hoping to start our own private wine label, and this is the culmination of several conversations over the last year or so. Ultimately we wanted this: an eye catching label, wine that we were excited about, and a fun story to tell. We were able to achieve all three with our first private label, illicit 7.

I approached Jeff-Lindsay Thorsen about producing a wine for us. I knew he had some extra things available that hadn’t made their way into his typical lineup, but that were still delicious wines worthy of attention and praise. He’s been making Pinot Noir for several vintages now, and it made sense to let this be the basis of the blend.

We decided that as good as the Pinot Noir was on its own, we’d also want to sprinkle in a little “seasoning,” and after trying the wine both with and without seasoning, we decided that it drinks best this way, with 1% of extra, non-publicized goodness.

In the glass, this is pure ripe red fruit. Stewed bing cherries come forth, with notes of fresh pine and dried roses, supported by a warming undertone of toasted allspice and vanilla bean. Red volcanic clay, sweet cherry tomato, and sagebrush hide in the undergrowth, popping out as you swirl and sip. A mouthful of raspberry, cherry and red currant rushes in ripe but finishes dry and tart.